Devotional article



DC 17, 1968 D. F. L AWLER DEVOTIONAL ARTICLE Filed Dec. 4, 1964 YINVENTOR afuel FPQUCL'San/e United States Patent() "F 3,416,989DEVOTIONAL ARTICLE Danielv Francis Lawler,t Newton, Conn., assignor toThe Wheell Rosary Co. Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation ofConnecticut f Filed Dec. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 416,073 6 Claims. (Cl. 161-8)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A compact rosary device for steering wheelsto extend over only a short segment of the rim of the wheel so as to beused by one hand in the recitation of the rosary without interferencewith the usual rim of the steering lwheel and in which the device ismolded to provide four decades of the rosary disposed in nested side byside rows on the upper surface of the device and the fifth decadeextending across the ends of the rows and connects the ends of theoutside rows with the usual pendant portion nested within t-he innerpair of the rows and the device being preferably of flexible plastic toconform to steering wheel rims of different diameters and readilysnapped in place thereon.

It is the custom amongst the members of the Roman Catholic faith torecite prayers consisting of various portions which collectively make upthe rosary. These recitations are somewhat lengthy, and selected ones ofthem are recited several times in the course of completing the prayers.It is therefore the custo-m of these individuals to linger or4manipulate a loose, articulated string of various rosary beads havingappropriate significance to the several portions of the rosary for thepurpose of counting the num-ber of times that a selected prayer has beenrecited in. order to complete the prayers according to the prescribedform.

Some of these individuals recite the rosary prayers while engaging insome form of activity which makes it inconvenient or extremely difficultto manipulate a conventional rosary' with both hands. For example, aperson driving an automobile or flying an airplane must maintain controlof the vehicle with at least one hand; military personnel about toengage in combat do not wish to relinquish manual control of theirweapons; and persons engaged in hazardous vocations or athleticactivities, as well as the aged or infirm, may wish to recite the rosarywhile still retaining some manual control over the objects of theirparticular activity.

A principal object of this invention is -to provide a devotional articlein the nature of a rosary which is adapted to be carried upon, or by, anobject or item of utility in a manner such that the article presents toan individual using it a rosary pattern or simulated rosary in which allthe parts thereof are rigidly or immovably related and are thereforedisposed for tactual manipulation bythe lingers of only one hand of theuser.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a devotional article in thenature of a rosary such as referred to above in which the various partsthereof, that is, the cross, the medal and the plurality ofindividualfbeads and the groups of beads are disposed on the rosaryarticle in tactile positions such that they are readily discernible onefrom` each other by manipulation with the lingers of one hand 3,416,989Patented' Dec. 17, 1968 preferably, though not necessarily, formedintegrally'with the supporting element. These rows of bead-portions,'together with the medal and cross, are conligurated into a rosary having acontinuous loop, with the medal and part of the loop attached theretobeing folded back into the loop to form a serpentine loop pattern with areentrant portion making up the loop rows. A central row pendent fromthe medal and terminating with the cross is disposed between the looprows and is substantially completely enclosed thereby either within oroutside of the loop. The rows are disposed in substantially parallelrelationship, but spaced apart a distance suicient so that each row can-be tactually distinguished from the others. Also, the individualbead-portions are spaced apart suficiently so as to be tactuallydiscernible from each other. By this arrangement the rosary articleachieves its function of permitting manipulation of the article by thefingers of one hand and yet occupies the minimum amount of spacerequired to achieve this function.

An important feature of this invention is the provision of a simulatedrosary carried by a suitable supporting element in which all parts ofthe rosary are in a fixed spatial relation with respect to eacht otherso that the simulated rosary formed is rigid and non-articulated incontrast to a conventional string of rosary beads. Thus with the presentinvention it is a relatively simple matter for the user to -move afinger from part to part thereof, particularly from bead-portion tobead-portion, in order to maintain the proper order and number of thevarious prayers of the rosary while reciting them during engagement inan unrelated activity.

The present invention is particularly adapted for embodiment in orattachment to the steering wheel of an automobile in a position where itdoes not interfere with the drivers normal grasping thereof, therebyavoiding the inconvenience and distraction experienced in reaching intoones pocket and handling, in the usual manner, a long string of looselyconnected beads and other parts fashioned as a normal rosary, and thisis an important feature of the present invention.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent from the following description when considered in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a plan view of an automobile steering wheel illustrating oneembodiment of the invention as adapted to be carried thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged fragmentary view 0f another embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged fragmentary view of still anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional viewl taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the `drawings and more particularly to FIGS. l through3, there is illustrated a conventional lautomobile steering wheel 10having radial spokes or connecting bars 12 for lconnecting the wheel 10to the steering post 14 of the automobile. There is conventionally alsoassociated with the steering wheel a horn operator 16, of which aplurality of these are usually connected by a horn ring 18.

It is to lbe understood that the invention as hereinafter described isnot limited to the use described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, this use being illustrative of the general utility of theinvention as well as special utility when yused in connection with thesteering wheel of an automobile.

The rosary article, Igenerally indicated by the numeral 20, comprises anelongate relatively narrow supporting element 22 having an exteriorsurface 24, although as stated the supporting element 22 may, ifdesired, be formed as an integral part of the utility object such as thewheel as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The supporting element, ifseparate from the utility article, may be fiat, or c-urved along anydimension yas desired in order to conform to the external contours ofthe utility object upon which it is mounted. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3,the supporting element 22 is curvilinear lengthwise and is also curvedin cross section to an extent at least approximating a hemicycle so asto have an interior surface 26 which conforms substantially with aportion of the exterior surface of the wheel 10.

The supporting element 22 carries on its surface 24 a simulated rosarycomp-rising a plurality of protuberances taking the form ofbead-portions 28 which are raised above the surface 24 and therefore aretactulally sensible. The bead-portions are arranged in live decades 30,individual 'bead-portions 32, and a single group 34, Also ineluded is amedal 36 and a cross 38, thereby completing the necessary components ofa conventional rosary except for a simulated chain 40.

In a conventional rosary, `five decades, four individual beads and themedal form a continuous loop, and two individual beads separated by agroup of three and terminating with the cross are pendent from themedal.

In the simulated rosary of this invention, in order to reduce the lengthof the article, the medal and pendent row of bead-portions are yfoldedback into the loop to form a serpentine loop pattern with Ia reentrantportion forming a plurality of loop rows of bead-portions and a pendentrow, either within or outside of the loop with all of the rows beingsubstantially parallel whereby the entire rosary pattern issubstantially rectangular and thereby occupies substantially less spacelengthwise than if the bead-portions were strung out as a singleextended loop as in a conventionalstring of rosary beads.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the preferred pattern of the simulated rosarycomprises a central row 42 having one individual bead-portion 372, thegroup 34 of bead-portions and other individual bead-portion 32, allbeing pendent from the medal 36 and terminating at the free end in thecross 38.

Oppositely extending from the medal 36 are two rows 44 of a decade 30each of bead-portions and which extend sufficiently far to substantiallycompletely enclose the -central row 42. The intermediate rows eachterminate with an individual bead-portion 32.

Connected to the intermediate rows 44 at the ends thereof remote fromthe medal 36 are two outer rows 46 which extend reversely from the abovementioned individual bead-sections 32 and include a decade 30 each ofbead-portions and terminate with an individual beadportion 32.

These two outer rows 46 are connected together, from the last mentionedindividual bead-portions 32, by a U- shaped row `48 comprising a decade30 of bead-portions in order to close the serpentine loop.

' It will be observed that each of the rows of lbeadportions areadjacent to but spaced from one another a distance sufiicient tofacilitate tactual discernment of one row from another; similarly, eachbead-portion in each row is adjacent to but spaced from an adjacentbeadportion a distance suflicient to tactually distinguish the-bead-portions, with additional space being left between the decades 30and the individual lbead-portions 32 so that the different portions ofthe simulated rosary can be readily distinguished by touch of thelinger.

Since the various portions of the simulated rosary are preferably formedintegrally with the supporting element 22, or integrally with theutility object, such as the steering wheel of an automobile, if desired,the article of this invention as thus far described presents to the usera simulated rosary in which the parts are all in a permanent spatialrelation relative to each other and thereby form a rigid non-articulatedstructure which permits easy manipulation with one hand and serves toreadily assist the user in the proper order of recitation of thisprayers.

As indicated hereinabove, the simulated rosary may be formed integrallywith a support element 22 which is adapted to be fixedly attached to autility object such as the steering wheel 10. In the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. l through 3 this is accomplished by providing thesupporting element 22 with a pair of circumferentially extending lips50, the terminal portions 52 of which detine an opening which isslightly less than the widest part of the steering wheelin cross-sectionso that the entire structure can be snapped over the wheel and heldsecurely in place by the lips 50. In this embodiment the rosary article20 is 4preferably formed of any suitable relatively rigid metal orplastic material which can be formed or molded to the desired shape andwhich has sufficient resiliency to be snapped over the wheel 10 in themanner illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a modified form of the invention in which therosary article 120 is formed of a relatively rigid non-resilientmaterial such as cast metal or wood, and which has a curved contour incross section covering only a major portion of the contour of the wheel10 as seen in FIG. 5. The supporting element 122 may be secured to thesteering wheel, 0r any other desired utility object, as by the screws123 illustrated in FIG. 4. In the alternative, the inner surface 126 ofthe supporting element may be coated with a suitable adhesive wherebythe element may be adhesively secured to the wheel 10, or other utilityobject in a desired location.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the previously mentioned embodiment of theinvention wherein the rosary article 220 including the variousprotuberances 228 are constituted as an integral part of the steeringwheel 210 or other utility object. Therefore a portion of the utilityobject itself forms the support element for the simulated rosary.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, not illustrated, therosary article is formed from a relatively rigid impressionable thicksynthetic or natural material such, for example, as rubber or leather,in which the configuration of the rosary pattern is impressed orembossed into the reverse side of the material so as to permanentlyprotrude from the exposed side thereof. The material is formed into asleeve which extends around the wheel 10, or other similar rod-likeshaped utility object, and the terminal edges of the sleeve are providedwith any suitable securing means such as snap, or slide fasteners, orclamps.

What I claim is:

1. A relatively rigid self-sustaining rosary device shaped to be locatedon a short segment of a rim of a steering wheel for one-hand engagementand having on a top surface thereof a plurality of raised bead-portionsforming an endless loop of bead-portions located between the inner andouter diameters of the wheel, said loop having a reentrant portionextending back into the loop to form a plurality of narrow rows ofdecade bead-portions arranged in pairs of adjacent rows substantiallyconcentric with each other and with the rim of the wheel, each pairhaving an inner row and an outer row joined at one end of each row by anisolated bead, the inner rows being joined together, the outer rowsbeing joined together at respective opposite ends thereof by means of anadditional p decade portion and an isolated bead at each end thereof,

terial having a concave side shaped to t over land be attached to ashort section of a hand engageable device having a substantiallycircular cross-section, said support having on its opposite side aplurality of integral raised bead-forming portions forming `an endlessloop-of bead- -portions exending from substantially one end to the otherof the support, said loop having a reentrant portion extending back intothe loop to form a plurality of narrow rows of decade bead-portionsarranged in pairs of adjacent rows substantially parallel with eachother and with the side edges of the support, each pair having an innerrow and an outer row joined at one end of each row by an isolated bead,the inner rows being joined together, the outer rows being joinedtogether at respective opposite ends thereof by means of an additionaldecade portion and an isolated bead at each end thereof, said rows ofbead-portions being adjacent but spaced from each other, and saidbead-portions within said rows being adjacent but spaced from eachother, a distance sufficient to permit tactual discernment one fromanother by a one-hand operation, said bead-portions being in immovablespatial relation with each other on said support.

3. A rosary article for attachment to a vehicle steering wheelcomprising a narrowv elongate arcuate relatively rigid self-sustainingsupport which has a concave underside shaped to iit over and be attachedto a short segmental portion of a steering wheel, said support having onits upper side a plurality of raised bead-portions forming an endlessloop of bead-portions extending from sub stantially one end to the otherof the support, said loop having a reentrant portion extending back intothe loop to form `a plurality of narrow rows of decade bead-portionsarranged in pairs of adjacent substantially parallel rows, each pairhaving an inner row and an outer row joined at one end of each row by anisolated bead, the inner rows being joined together and the outer rowsbeing joined together at respective opposite ends thereof by means of anaddition-al decade portion and an isolated bead at each end thereof, asimulated raised medal carried by said support interposed in said loopat the joinder of said inner rows, a simulated raised cross carried bysaid support and connected to said medal by a row of bead-portions, allof said rows of bead-portions, said medal and said cross beingcongurated as a simulated rosary having the endless loop formed into asubstantially rectangular serpentine pattern with the last named rowbeing pendent from the medal and substantially completely enclosed bythe other rows, all of the bead-portions, the medal and the cross beingin immovable spatial relation with each other on the support, therebyforming a rigid, non-articulated simulated rosary adapted for tactualmanipulation by the lingers of only one hand for assistance in theproper order of recit-ation of prayers.

4. A rosary article for attachment to a vehicle steering wheelcomprising a narrow elongate arcuate relatively rigid support which isself-sustaining in traverse crosssection and has a concave undersideshaped to t over and be attached to a short segmental portion of a rimof a steering wheel, said support having a convex upper side providedwith a plurality of raised bead-portions forming an endless loop ofbead-portions extending from substantially one end to the other of thesupport, said loop having a reentrant portion extending back into theloop to form a plurality of narrow rows of decade bead-portions arrangedin spaced pairs of adjacent rows substantially concentric with thecenter for the arcuate support and with the side edges of the support,each pair having an inner row and an outer row joined at one end of eachrow by an isolated bead, the inner rows being joined together, the outerrows being joined together at respective opposite ends thereof by meansof an additional decade portion and an isolated bead at each endthereof, said rows of beadportions being adjacent but spaced from eachother, and said bead-portions within said rows being adjacent but spacedfrom each other, a distance suflicient to permit,

tactual discernment one from another, said bead-portions being inimmovable spatial relation with each other on said supporting element.

5. A rosary article as delined in claim 4, in which the support is madeof yieldable plastic material so that it will yield to fit steeringwheel rims of different diameters.

6. A rosary article as deiined in claim 4, in which the support hasportions engageable with the underside of the rim of the steering wheel,and is made of plastic material which is resiliently yieldable to permitthe support to be snapped over the rim and be held thereon frictionallyagainst casual movement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,774,059 8/ 1930 Hennegan 161-8X 2,213,516 9/1940 Beehan 35--23 2,351,918 6/1944 Brennan 161-8 X2,663,911 12/1953 Waag et al.

2,650,445 9/ 1953 Randall 161-8 2,972,819 2/ 1961 Graham.

3,007,743 11/1961 Lange 161-7 X ROBERT F. BURNETT, Primary Examiner.

W. A. POWELL, Assistant Examiner.

